# Saint-Martin-de-Valamas

> commune in Ardèche, France

**Wikidata**: [Q322402](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q322402)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Martin-de-Valamas)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saint-martin-de-valamas

## Summary

Saint-Martin-de-Valamas is a commune located in the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France. It sits within the canton of Saint-Martin-de-Valamas and the arrondissement of Tournon-sur-Rhône, situated at coordinates 44.937222° N, 4.368611° E. The commune, whose alternative name is Mas-d'Erieu, serves as a local administrative center in the mountainous Ardèche region.

## Key Facts

- **Country**: France
- **Region**: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- **Department**: Ardèche (inception: March 4, 1790)
- **Arrondissement**: Tournon-sur-Rhône
- **Canton**: Saint-Martin-de-Valamas
- **Coordinates**: 44.937222° N, 4.368611° E
- **Official Website**: http://www.saintmartindevalamas.com
- **Wikipedia Title**: Saint-Martin-de-Valamas
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Ardèche, France
- **Alternative Name**: Mas-d'Erieu
- **Sitelink Count**: 42
- **Image**: Town hall building (mairie) photographed by Havang(nl), licensed under CC0/public domain

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Saint-Martin-de-Valamas?**

Saint-Martin-de-Valamas is a commune, which is the smallest territorial administrative division in France for municipalities. It operates under the French commune system, which traces its institutional origins to 1789. As part of the French administrative structure, it falls within the Ardèche department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

**Where is Saint-Martin-de-Valamas located geographically?**

The commune is situated in the Ardèche department in southern France, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It belongs to the arrondissement of Tournon-sur-Rhône and serves as the seat of its own canton. The precise location is at latitude 44.937222° north and longitude 4.368611° east, placing it in the mountainous terrain characteristic of the Ardèche area.

**What is the population of Saint-Martin-de-Valamas?**

The commune has experienced population fluctuations over time, with recorded figures including 1,171; 1,142; 1,169; 1,115; 1,102; 1,625; 1,640; 1,516; 1,386; 1,299; 1,284; 1,233; 1,096; 1,092; 1,092; 1,084; and 1,075 residents across various census periods.

**What is Mas-d'Erieu in relation to Saint-Martin-de-Valamas?**

Mas-d'Erieu is the alternative or historical name for Saint-Martin-de-Valamas. This alias reflects the local heritage and potentially older naming conventions used in the region before the standardized French commune names were established.

**What notable buildings or landmarks exist in Saint-Martin-de-Valamas?**

The commune features its town hall (mairie), photographed by contributor Havang(nl). The image is available on Wikimedia Commons under a CC0/public domain license, depicting the municipal building that serves as the administrative center for the commune.

## Why It Matters

Saint-Martin-de-Valamas matters as a representative example of French communal administration in the rural Ardèche department. As a commune dating back to the post-Revolution administrative reorganization of France, it embodies the decentralized governance structure that characterizes the French Republic. The commune serves as a local administrative hub, providing municipal services to its residents and contributing to the broader social and economic fabric of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

The commune's location within Ardèche places it in one of France's departments known for its rugged terrain, gorges, and natural beauty, making it part of a region that attracts visitors interested in outdoor activities and preserved natural environments. Its position within the canton system also indicates its role as a local administrative center serving surrounding smaller communities.

## Notable For

- Serving as the administrative seat of the canton of Saint-Martin-de-Valamas
- Being part of the historic Ardèche department established in 1790
- Operating within the arrondissement of Tournon-sur-Rhône
- Bearing the alternative name Mas-d'Erieu, reflecting local historical naming
- Having an official municipal website at www.saintmartindevalamas.com

## Body

### Administrative Structure

Saint-Martin-de-Valamas operates as a commune within the French administrative system, which originated from the revolutionary reorganization of 1789. The commune is classified as a "commune de France", representing the fundamental territorial unit for municipal governance in France. This structure provides local administrative autonomy while remaining integrated into the broader departmental and regional hierarchy.

The commune belongs to the canton of Saint-Martin-de-Valamas, which serves as an electoral district for various local and departmental elections. The canton system in France divides departments into smaller electoral constituencies, and Saint-Martin-de-Valamas holds the distinction of being the seat of its own canton—a role that indicates its relative importance within the local area.

### Geographic Location

Situated at coordinates 44.937222° north latitude and 4.368611° east longitude, Saint-Martin-de-Valamas lies within the Ardèche department. Ardèche is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southern-central France, an area characterized by mountainous and hilly terrain, deep river gorges, and volcanic formations. The region's geography influences local economic activities, tourism patterns, and the daily lives of residents.

The commune falls within the arrondissement of Tournon-sur-Rhône, which organizes judicial, administrative, and electoral functions at the sub-departmental level. This administrative arrangement places Saint-Martin-de-Valamas within a defined geographic and institutional framework that coordinates local services, infrastructure planning, and governmental functions.

### Historical Context

The Ardèche department was established on March 4, 1790, during the early phases of the French Revolution. This date marks the creation of the department as part of the rationalization of French territorial administration, which replaced the old provinces with more uniform departmental structures. Saint-Martin-de-Valamas has existed as a commune within this departmental framework since its establishment.

The alternative name Mas-d'Erieu suggests historical roots predating the revolutionary administrative changes, potentially reflecting older local toponymic traditions. Place names beginning with "Mas-" in the Ardèche region often derive from Occitan or older Romance language variants, indicating the area's linguistic heritage.

### Demographics and Population

The population figures recorded for Saint-Martin-de-Valamas show considerable variation across different census periods: 1,171; 1,142; 1,169; 1,115; 1,102; 1,625; 1,640; 1,516; 1,386; 1,299; 1,284; 1,233; 1,096; 1,092; 1,092; 1,084; and 1,075 residents. These numbers reflect the demographic fluctuations common in rural French communes, influenced by factors including economic opportunities, migration patterns, and broader regional development trends.

The population figures indicate a commune of modest size, typical of rural Ardèche, where many small communes maintain populations between 1,000 and 2,000 residents. This scale of population supports local agricultural activities, small-scale commerce, and community services appropriate to rural French life.

### Municipal Infrastructure

The commune maintains a town hall (mairie), which serves as the administrative center for local governance. The building, photographed by Havang(nl), represents the institutional presence of municipal government in Saint-Martin-de-Valamas. The image, available through Wikimedia Commons under a CC0/public domain license, documents the physical infrastructure supporting local administration.

The commune operates an official website at http://www.saintmartindevalamas.com, providing digital access to municipal information, services, and community resources. This online presence reflects the integration of modern administrative practices within the traditional commune structure.

### Institutional Connections

Saint-Martin-de-Valamas maintains connections to various institutional entities through its administrative classification. As a commune (commune de France), it relates to the broader French territorial system and benefits from the administrative, judicial, and electoral frameworks established at departmental, regional, and national levels.

The sitelink count of 42 indicates moderate digital presence and cross-referencing with other Wikimedia projects, suggesting the commune is documented within broader knowledge bases and is accessible to researchers, tourists, and others seeking information about French territorial divisions.

### Cultural and Regional Identity

The commune's identity within Ardèche connects it to the department's distinctive character, known for its preserved natural environment, traditional villages, and cultural heritage. Ardèche has become increasingly recognized for its outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, kayaking, and cave exploration, attracting both French and international visitors.

The local economy likely combines agricultural activities, particularly pastoral farming and viticulture common to the region, with tourism and services. This economic mix reflects the broader pattern in rural French departments where traditional agricultural practices coexist with emerging service and tourism sectors.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Annuaire de service-public.fr
7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
8. Populations légales 2016
9. Populations légales 2017
10. Populations légales 2018
11. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
12. Populations légales 2019
13. Populations légales 2020
14. Populations légales 2021
15. Populations de référence 2022
16. Populations de référence 2023
17. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
18. [Source](http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/fiche.php?select_resultat=33393)
19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
20. GeoNames
21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
22. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)